Wellington, FL – January 8, 2013 – Equestrian Sport Productions hosted its A-T Children’s Benefit Horse Show on January 3-6, 2013, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with a full schedule of hunter/jumper competition. The week featured a $25,000 Grand Prix and $10,000 Welcome Stake along with hunter, jumper and equitation divisions throughout the week. At The Stadium show grounds, a successful second edition of the Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Show Series Finals was held in the VanKampen Arena with increased entries and some of the country’s best young sport horses.
Aaron Vale and Zippo II Blaze to Victory in $25,000 A-T Benefit Grand Prix
On Saturday evening, the International Arena at PBIEC saw 43 horse and rider combinations in the $25,000 A-T Benefit Grand Prix. Competing under the lights, exhibitors jumped a course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. Seven entries were able to clear the course to advance to the jump-off and three completed double clear rounds to earn top honors.
Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire was the first competitor to jump-off aboard Becky and David Gochman’s Attack II and set the pace with a clear round in 40.763 seconds to eventually finish third. Canada’s Ian Millar and Dixson, owned by Ariel and Susan Grange, were next to clear the course and stopped the timers in 40.506 seconds to take over the lead, but they would eventually finish second. Next on course, USA’s Aaron Vale and Zippo II, owned by 2VR Show Jumpers, blazed through the track a full two seconds faster in 38.304 seconds to take the win.
The remaining jump-off competitors all had four faults. Ireland’s Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane had the fastest four-fault round in 38.383 seconds to place fourth. Catherine Pasmore (USA) and Freddy Star finished in 39.111 seconds to earned fifth place honors. Peter Wylde (USA) and Edouard de Rothschild’s Lewin 5 stopped the clock in 41.141 seconds to finish sixth. Georgina Bloomberg and Stephex Stables’ Perfect de Coquerie were seventh in 42.802 seconds.
Class winner, Zippo II, is a nine-year-old KWPN gelding by Lupicor x Voltaire. Aaron Vale just started riding the horse this week after bringing him over from England.
“His potential looks good,” Vale smiled after the class. “He arrived in my barn a week ago, so this is a hell of a start I have to say. He went wonderful all week. He is straightforward, he is scopey, he seems like he is really careful. It looks like we have a real nice horse here.”
“He jumped around real nice,” Vale added. “He was fourth in the 1.40m yesterday. He wasn’t turning super, but he was just so comfortable with the jumps and all, so I figured he would handle the lights and everything at night. I thought it was worth a try and it was. He was a little bit wiggly, but he steadied and waited for the jumps when he needed to and he just feels like a beautifully produced horse. I am lucky we got him.”
Vale saw a video of Zippo II and went to London to try him. He described what he knows about the horse’s previous years.
“I bought him out of England and he mostly had just jumped up to 1.40m so far, but I think he had a real good background,” Vale stated. “They brought him up slow and put a real good foundation under him. I think he was in Scott Brash’s system. I don’t think he showed the horse himself that much, but it had been in his program and they did a beautiful job. He is lovely.”
Vale described his plan in the jump-off, noting, “It was mostly a galloping course. The main thing was not to let the galloping trick you into going too fast and having one down in the combination. For a big horse he is really pretty light and quick across the ground it seems. He was quite quick. I held up to the vertical in the center because I wanted to get his mind waiting a little bit because he is still green. I could have easily left a stride out there, but I wanted to make him wait before the combination so that he was thinking about slowing down and jumping up. I took a pretty big chance at the last fence. I don’t think he knew what I was asking. I asked him to go that fast and I don’t think he realized there was another jump, but he made a good effort when we got there. I was hoping the time would hold up and it did.”
Final Results: $25,000 A-T Benefit Grand Prix
- ZIPPO II AARON VALE 2VR SHOW JUMPERS: 0/0/38.304
- DIXSON IAN MILLAR ARIEL AND SUSAN GRANGE: 0/0/40.506
- ATTACK II AMANDA DERBYSHIRE BECKY AND DAVID GOCHMAN: 0/0/40.763
- CAPALL ZIDANE RONAN MC GUIGAN RONAN MC GUIGAN: 0/4/38.383
- FREDDY STAR CATHERINE PASMORE PASMORE STABLES, LLC: 0/4/39.111
- LEWIN 5 PETER WYLDE EDOUARD DE ROTHSCHILD: 0/4/41.141
- PERFECT DE COQUERIE GEORGINA BLOOMBERG STEPHEX STABLES: 0/4/42.802
- ROCKY W KAITLIN CAMPBELL KAITLIN CAMPBELL: 1/86.735
- EVERYTHING KELSEY THATCHER PONY LANE FARM: 4/79.261
- WINCHESTER THEO GENN BRIDLEBOURNE STABLES LLC: 4/82.170
- CADENCE MEGAN EDRICK WEXLER PROCEDURES, INC: 4/82.247
- WEC QUIDAM-QUIDAM SARAH SCHEIRING WILLIAM UPTON: 4/84.600
Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Show Series Finals Highlights Talented Young Horses of North America
ESP in cooperation with The North American Studbook and Spy Coast Farm LLC hosted the Finals for the 2012 Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Show Series (YHS) this weekend at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The exciting 2012 Young Horse Show Series (YHS) Finals awarded $10,000 in total prize money to the year-end champions following two rounds of classes held on Saturday, January 5, and Sunday, January 6, 2013. Judges included Jos Sevriens, Hilda Gurney and Scott Fitton.
The YHS competition began on Saturday, January 5, in the VanKampen Indoor Arena. The day featured the first round for Four- and Five-Year-Olds competing in classes Under Saddle, Jumping and Dressage. Classes were also be held for all age divisions in the In-Hand/At Liberty and Jump Chute. The top three scoring horses of each class then qualified for the second and final round that was held on Sunday. Following the competition on Saturday, a special stallion show was also held in the indoor arena where top breeding stallions were presented in-hand. On Sunday, January 6, the final rounds of each divisions were held.
In the In-Hand Yearling division, Sakura Hill Cantanita S (Canturo/Ulysses m2s), bred and owned by Sakura Hill Farm was the champion. Pandora (Balta ‘Czar/Prinz Gaylord), bred and owned by Winhall, LLC finished in reserve.
In the In-Hand Two-Year-Old division, Uphoria (UB 40/Fyre One), bred by Rebecca Jacobs and owned by Samantha Werner earned the championship. Finnegan SCF (Fidertanz/Wolkenstein II), bred by Star Quary Farm and owned by Rachel Schilling was reserve champion.
The In-Hand Three-Year-Old champion was Monticello (Rosenthal/Hall of Fame), bred by Patty Brantley and owned by Jennifer Smith. Reserve champion was Ego (Campbel VDL/Voltaire) bred by Cw van de Borne and owned by Taylor Horn.
The In-Hand Four and Five-Year-Old championship was awarded to Happenstance (Diamond Hit/Hohenstein), bred and owned by Mary Blanford. Santeria SQF (Sandro Hit/Wolkenstein II), bred by Jill Peterson and owned by Richard J. Jankura finished in reserve.
In the Jump Chute Two-Year-Old division, Etoile de Leen (Escapade/Plato), bred and owned by Carol Le Monte earned the championship. Esprit de Lys (Escapade/Plato), also bred and owned by Carol Le Monte was reserve champion.
The Jump Chute Three-Year-Old champion was Jett B (Simsalibim/Chin Chin), bred by Bannock Burn Farm and owned by Iconic Bay Eq. Reserve champion was Ego (Campbel VDL/Voltaire), bred by Cw van de Borne and owned by Taylor Horn.
The Jump Chute Four-Year-Old championship was awarded to Mimmo TZ (Massumo/Narcos II), bred by Jose Timmerman and owned by Sherry Hill. Idool (Enrico/Couleur Rubin), bred by Josef Schalk and owned by Kelsey Barfield, was reserve champion.
In the Four-Year-Old Flat Under Saddle, Happenstance (Diamond Hit/Hohenstein), bred and owned by Mary Blanford was the champion. Iago JSF (Acodetto/Balta ‘Czar), bred and owned by Jump Start Farm finished in reserve.
The Five-Year-Old Flat Under Saddle champion was Ha’czelle JSF (Balta ‘Czar/Elton), bred by Jump Start Farm and owned by D. Lutz.
The Four-Year-Old Jumping Under Saddle champion was Armani Z (Asca Z/Cumano) owned by Linda Baker. Iago JSF (Acodetto/Balta ‘Czar), bred and owned by Jump Start Farm, was the reserve champion.
The Five-Year-Old Jumping Under Saddle championship was awarded to Canny Windsor Z (Canezaro/Carolus I), bred by Windsor Farm and owned by Hess Eq. LLC. Quinitini (Quinar/Cassini II), bred by Bonnie Smith and owned by Wendy Peralta, was the reserve champion.
In the Four-Year-Old Dressage Test Level 1, Ragtime (Rosenthal/Clintino), bred by Banburry Cross and owned by Judy McGaughen earned the championship. Happenstance (Diamond Hit/Hohenstein), bred and owned by Mary Blanford finished in reserve.
Lisa Lourie of Spy Coast Farm had great things to say about this year’s Finals and the growth of the shows.
Lourie stated, “We had quite a bit of growth both in the number of horse shows we had this year from the previous year and also in the number of horses that we had participate in the final. I would say the participants were much more comfortable with the whole process. It was just a very easy show to run. People were able to hang out and watch their babies in a nice, comfortable, safe environment. I think this facility was perfect for the event. People felt special and they got their money’s worth.”
“We have added on three or four more dates for next year just at this function,” Lourie noted. “People have come up and offered to have more shows, including two in California and one potentially in Canada. That was a terrific addition this year.”
“We had increased attendance this year of spectators and a lot of breeders and trainers came to watch. We had a very good stallion show as well. It is really becoming a mixed place of trainers and owners and breeders and show staff and even people from USEF and USHJA, so it is really gaining ground.”
The Young Horse Shows give breeders, owners, and trainers a chance to showcase yearling to five-year-old young sport horses in an age appropriate setting, helping to promote breeding in America and in turn create a marketplace for trainers and riders to purchase young horses.
Lourie explained, “Of the finalists, our percentage was much higher this year than it was last year; it was probably close to 85% of horses bred in the U.S. The quality was better this year and it was already an international quality last year. When you look at the finalists that we pinned, you see horses that could perform well anywhere, so we are very excited. People are really getting the message that a sport horse is a sport horse and you have to figure out what a horse is going to be when it grows up no matter what the breeding. This show gives them an opportunity to try different things.”
Following the Finals for 2012, YHS will be coming into its third year of competition in 2013 and will host two events during this year’s FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Both shows will be held at The Stadium at PBIEC. The first show will be held on Saturday, March 2, during FTI WEF 8. The second show will be on Tuesday, March 5. The 2013 YHS Finals will once again be scheduled to take place at the PBIEC at the end of the year.
After a very successful 2012 season, Lourie thanked everyone involved. “We want to thank our sponsors. We had a significant increase in the number of sponsors that we have had this year,” she said. “We want to thank Equestrian Sport Productions that has really invested in these shows and I think they are going to see a return on that investment. We are getting excitement from the governing bodies, USEF and USHJA. We are starting to get legitimized and solidified and that is where we want to be. We have really achieved a lot in the two years that we have been doing this and we are very happy.”
For more information on the Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Show Series, please visit www.younghorseshow.com.
Jumper Highlights from the A-T Children’s Benefit Horse Show
On Thursday, the $10,000 Welcome Stake kicked off the week’s competition with a win for Amanda Derbyshire and Attack II. They were the fastest of three double clear rounds in an eight-horse jump-off. Alise Oken and Kaid Du Ry finished second. Liza Finsness and Ormsby Hill were third.
In the Reist Low Children’s Jumper Classic, Madonna, owned by Ashley Reed and ridden by Jacqueline Oliva jumped to victory. Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc.’s Kilconnel Hero and Daniela Stransky placed second. In the Tackeria NAL Child/Adult Classic, Pennington Farms, Inc.’s Levantos II and Courtney Line were the winners with Jessy Du Breau and Laura Sexton finishing second.
The Low Junior Jumper Classic was won by Waikiki, owned by Rivers Edge and ridden by Victoria Colvin. Chansonette Farm LLC’s Zentina B and Lillie Keenan were second. The Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic saw a win for Corina and Olivia Jack with Perle and Heather Hooker finishing second. In the High AO/Junior Jumper Classic, Hi Hopes Farm LLC’s Kaid Du Ry and Alise Oken were the winners. Chellando Z and Katherine Strauss placed second.
Hunter Highlights from the A-T Children’s Benefit Horse Show
The hunters also held their competition this week and started out with the professional divisions and a sweep in the Conformation Hunters for Sandy Ferrell. Ferrell earned the divisions championship aboard Mariano and was reserve with Moshi, both horses owned by Stephanie Riggio.
In the First Year Green Hunters, Scott Stewart and Rose Hill Farm’s Starmont were the champions with Jane Olson Fisher’s So Lucky and Stephen Heinecke in reserve. The Performance Working Hunter 3’3″ & 3’6″ champion was R. Bruce Duchossois’ Smiles with Havens Schatt. Reserve champion was BLK Sport Horses LLC’s Vail and Bonnie Kretchik. In the Second Year/High Performance Hunters, Jessica Stitt’s On the Hour and Holly Orlando earned the championship with Pony Lane Farm’s Fredrick and Maggie Bracco in reserve.
The Citibank Amateur-Owner Hunter division also showed this week with a championship win for Wingman and Lee Kellogg Sadrian. One Shot and Sarah Sturges finished in reserve. The Citibank Amateur-Owner Working Hunter 3’3″ 36 & Over champion was Born Free Farm’s Castleguard and Lisa Foster with Lee Kellogg Sadrian and Sterling in reserve. The Citibank Amateur-Owner Working Hunter 3’3″ 18-35 champion was BLK Sport Horses LLC’s Batman with Bonnie Kretchik in the irons. Reserve champion was Messina, owned and ridden by Catherine Cowie.
In the #1 Education Place Small Junior Hunters, Lillie Keenan piloted Jennifer Gates’ Parkland to the division championship. Victoria Colvin and Scott Stewart’s Canadian Blue were reserve. The #1 Education Place Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under champion was Blythe Ruppel’s Charade ridden by Meredith Darst. Rapunzel and Katherine Strauss finished in reserve. The #1 Education Place Large Junior Hunter 16-17 champion was Donald Stewart’s Walk the Line ridden by Lillie Keenan. Reserve Champion was Norgan, Inc.’s Capstone ridden by Sydney Shulman.
The pony divisions showed over the weekend with the Small Pony Hunter championship going to Sports Talk and Francesca Dildabanian. Peacock Ridge LLC’s Q-2 ridden by Yasmin Rizvi and Zayna Rizvi was reserve. In the Medium Pony Hunters, Laugh Out Loud and Francesca Dildabanian earned the championship. Wild Sky Farm’s Macy Grey and Devin Seek were reserve. The Large Pony Hunter champion was Madison Goetzmann’s Happily Ever Laughter with Ashton Alexander in the irons. Kelsey Landrum’s Spellbound, ridden by Bernadette Louise Chungunco and Ashton Alexander, finished in reserve.
In the equitation divisions, Meredith Darst rode Olivia Weaver’s On Tour to a win in the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal. The ASPCA Maclay was won by Lillie Keenan aboard Stallone, owned by Heritage Farm, Inc. The WIHS Equitation Classic saw a win for Victoria Colvin aboard Amore Mio, owned by Scott Stewart and Alex Crown. In the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, Brett Burlington rode Sweet Oak Farm’s Sunman to victory.
For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com